Engine lubricant type and condition monitoring system
First Claim
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1. In an engine having a lubricating system, a lubricant monitoring system comprising:
- a first sensor for sensing the type of oil contained in the lubricating system;
a second sensor for sensing the level of oil in the lubricating system;
a third sensor for sensing a first system operation parameter which varies with the rate of degradation of the oil in the lubricating system;
control means responsive to said first, second and third sensors for;
(a) determining when an oil change is required;
(b) determining when the oil is drained from the system;
(c) determining the type of oil which is introduced following the draining; and
(d) setting values which are used to determine when an oil change is required.
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Abstract
In order to obviate the need to manually input data relating to the grade of oil used to lubricate an engine, a monitoring system includes a sensor which senses the grade of oil along with sensors which enable the oil change procedure per se to be detected. After each oil change the output of the oil grade sensor is read and the appropriate values which determine the limits to which the oil may be permitted to degradate are automatically determined.
23 Citations
9 Claims
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1. In an engine having a lubricating system, a lubricant monitoring system comprising:
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a first sensor for sensing the type of oil contained in the lubricating system; a second sensor for sensing the level of oil in the lubricating system; a third sensor for sensing a first system operation parameter which varies with the rate of degradation of the oil in the lubricating system; control means responsive to said first, second and third sensors for; (a) determining when an oil change is required; (b) determining when the oil is drained from the system; (c) determining the type of oil which is introduced following the draining; and (d) setting values which are used to determine when an oil change is required. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a method of operating an engine having a lubricating system, the steps comprising:
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(a) sensing the type of oil contained in the lubricating system; (b) sensing the level of oil in the lubricating system; (c) sensing a parameter which varies with the rate of degradation of the oil in the lubricating system; (d) utilizing the data derived in step (c) to determine when an oil change is required; (e) utilizing the data derived in step (b) to determine when the oil is drained from the system; (f) utilizing the data derived in step (a) to determine the type of oil which is introduced following the draining; and (g) utilizing the data derived in step (f) to set values which are used to determine when an oil change is required. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification